Early Start
- Alan Fong
- Sep 16
- 3 min read
Today's Verse:
For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth…O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. ~Psalm 71:5, 17
I am a proponent of getting an early start on things. For instance, when traveling, I like to plan ahead of time what I need to bring, create a daily itinerary, and map out how I am getting to my destination. I believe that one of the keys to financial success is getting an early start on saving money and developing a financial roadmap. In our devotion this morning, we see how David makes an emphasis on the early start he had in his walk with God.
There is the priority of an early start.
“For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.” David got his early start from his father’s influence. His father, Jesse, knew the principle found in Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” The starting point in David’s life was a saving faith in the Lord. He said, “Thou art my trust from my youth.” Children need to learn and be ingrained with the idea that they should commit to and trust in the Lord for every area of their lives. The same can be said for a new believer. From the moment a person gets saved, they must learn to trust in God for every area of their life. A proper question to ask in starting off the Christian life is, “Will you trust the Lord with your life?” Starting early is a priority.
There is a preference from an early start.
“Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him” (1 Samuel 16:18). King Saul’s men were searching for a reliable man who could play a musical instrument in such a way that it would give peace to the king. Hands down, David was the unanimous choice for this role! His early start helped him to become proficient, prudent, and preferred. King Saul’s men knew that they were getting a proven servant of God when they recommended David as a servant to King Saul.
There are the practices in an early start.
“O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.” My father was very athletic when he was a young man. At as early as five years of age, he taught me the value of doing calisthenics such as push-ups, sit-ups, and knee bends. To this day, I do a good number of these exercises daily. David learned early on the practice of the worship of God. He learned to call on the Lord, sing praise to the Lord, and magnify Him. David learned early on how to wait on the Lord. The trials he went through taught him that God is not in a hurry and that we cannot rush Him. David learned early on how to witness for the Lord. Repeatedly, he spoke of declaring God’s righteousness and showing God’s strength to his generation. The earlier you learn to do something important for God, the more likely it becomes a regular part of you later in life.
There is a product from an early start.
“Now also when I am old and greyheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.” We see the virtues of an early start in David as an older man. He was still praying. He was still dependent upon God. He was still driven to show his generation God’s righteousness and power. He was committed to passing this down to the next generation. He was still faithful in the things he was taught as a boy. David served his generation by the will of God.
Get an early start in the good practices of the Christian life. Stop putting off things that are important. Take on the disciplines of an early start, and bloom where God has planted you.
Have a faithful God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Daniel 10-12
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